A coalition of environmental groups has sued the Port of Seattle to block it from leasing 50 acres to Foss Maritime to homeport Shell’s Arctic oil drilling fleet.

The Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, Sierra Club, Washington Environmental Council and the Seattle Audubon Society sued Monday in King County Superior Court, alleging violations of the State Environmental Policy Act and Shoreline Management Act. They allege the project would damage water quality.

The lease, which the Port approved in February, is expected to generate $13.7 million in revenue for the Port. Foss would use the area to service Shell’s Arctic fleet.

The Port sees a deal with Foss Maritime as an opportunity to modernize its empty Terminal 5, thus reducing taxpayer support for the area and creating a significant number of maritime jobs. Port officials have said they’re spending $2 million a year just to keep up the area now.

The environmental groups said the Port failed to provide adequate information about the deal with Foss.

Today a contractor working for the Seattle Department of Transportation began working on improvements along Delridge Way Southwest between Southwest Andover Street and the West Seattle Bridge Trail. This project will improve safety for all roadway users as well as for pedestrians and bicyclists using the trail.

Crews are beginning work at the intersection of Delridge and Andover, removing existing asphalt and installing new storm drainage and curb ramps. The contractor expects work at this intersection to take about three weeks. There will curb lane restrictions, on-street parking restrictions, transit stop relocations, and pedestrian and bicycle detours around the work area.

The Seattle Green Spaces Coalition meeting to plan an event for the Fauntleroy Substation on Brace Point Drive is set for Sunday March 8 at the Southwest Library from 3:00pm to 4:45pm.

From the SGSC website:
"Seattle Green Spaces Coalition (SGSC) has asked the City to provide extensive information on Seattle City Lights' actions and plans for the 35+ Surplus Substations in order to determine the basis for their clearing of the vegetation at Neighborhood properties, their methods of clearing and environmental remediation alternatives, and the process of including the Neighborhoods in the determination of what is best for both the Neighborhoods. Seattle City Light has been very helpful in providing the requested information.

SGSC continues to review and analyze the large amount of information provided so that we may provide recommendations for move forward in the most effective and realistic manner to best re-purpose the Surplus City Properties for the benefit of the Neighborhoods and the resident of Seattle. This information gathering was begun early in 2014 and continues."